Though much of the cast remained until the end of the series, several actors such as Harry Morgan left MASH throughout its 11-season run. MASH was the second adaptation of the novel following the Robert Altman movie, which followed the experiences of a medical unit during the Korean War. MASH began as a comedy that nevertheless took the core theme seriously, and while the showrunners were forced to include a laugh track, they were able to drop it from scenes involving surgery. In later seasons, it evolved from a sitcom to a dramedy, with some episodes being borderline laugh-free.
